Danica McKellar Talks Math & Motherhood

New mom Danica McKellar talked to Access Hollywood this week about a couple of subjects that are near and dear to her: Childbirth and mathematics. The HOT X: Algebra Exposed author explains that the two are surprisingly similar (no, really!).

Describing her “amazing” natural childbirth experience with her son Draco, 2 1/2 months, the former Wonder Years star said:
“It was 36 hours of labor, it was really something. But you know what, it was one of those challenges that I got to overcome, it’s one of those times when you tell yourself, ‘I don’t know if I can do this’ – cause I didn’t know if I could do it. And then you just push through and you believe in yourself.”

“It’s all the same stuff I talk about in my math books,” she continued. “I tell girls, ‘You know what, when you think you can’t do a math problem, keep trying anyways, build that confidence.’ It’s all about the confidence that comes from feeling smart. And as I was in labor I was going, ‘Okay, okay just keep going. What do you tell your girls, what do you tell your readers? Overcome challenges, you can do it.’ We’re all stronger than we think we are.”

Danica went on to reveal that when Draco was finally ready to arrive she actually pulled him out herself.

“It was amazing. And it was probably because I didn’t have the epidural, I was fully alert and I just would never trade that experience. I would do it again. As painful and as horrible as it was at times, it was the most cathartic, amazing feeling to actually feel everything and deliver that baby.”

Showing off her fabulous post-baby figure in a red dress, Danica laughed, “I’ve wanted boobs since I was 10 years old, and I finally got ’em!”

I fully support mothers who want a natural childbirth, and really admire Danica. But epidurals don’t make less alert – they may partially immobilize you, but they are NOT sedatives. Either Danica was misquoted or just ill-informed, but it seems as if she is passing (negative) judgment on the broad spectrum of people’s birth experiences. To each her own, I say!